I was told by Anesthesia Associates of the XXXXX, "We don't give discounts."

I just now called a dumbass place that had just sent me an approximately $500 bill for anesthesia during a procedure I had in December.

I offered to pay the total bill in cash if they would give me a discount.

The women said, "We don't give discounts." She kept saying that.

Oh, don't they!! Don't they give them to insurance companies all the time?

Anyway, I got pissed off and hung up. I will try tomorrow--maybe I'll get a different person.

If they won't do the discount, I figure I'll make them some sort of payment (not the whole thing.)

Any thoughts?

make it cost them. The jerks.

Some medical places will give you a discount if you pay cash; my dr. did. (10%).

You must have some good group insurance.

While giving you a discount probably doesn't. I was more curious about the cash part as I don't see what advantage that would give to the provider, other than possibly avoiding credit card usage fees, which are pretty small. I may be off base but I've always been a little leary of businesses that give a cash discount becuase in the past (especially in the restaurant/food service business) it's done to avoid taxes.

dr.s offer a small discount if one pays in full.

I may have a bias opinion and just plain despise doctors due to a journey that began 3 years ago and hundreds of thousands of dollars later. My health was ruined with a false postitive diagnosis of Stage IV cancer. I was told the reaper is at the door, bend over, grab your ankles and kiss your ass goodbye. You've got 2 years.

Can I please punch someone in the face??? Please, I've been living in a 'Medical Twilight Zone' all this time.

I knew in my gut they were wrong - I argued, presented my own research. When they blew me off and wanted to continue poisoning me I searched for other doctors. HA!! No wanted to touch me with a 10' pole.

Sorry off on a rant here and off topic. Finally this week 2 doctors opened the gates of hell for me and told me to forget the cancer - and get on with my life. Thanks - I'm 61 I was 58 when this started. There is more sand at the bottom of the glass than at the top and my health isn't what it was before they started with the shit.

Sorry...

Back to the discount - why not. I haven't pursued it but, I'd bet a bazillion dollars they'd not owe me a nickel or a refund or even an 'We're sorry', lawsuits - ya know.

Mom was right - stay away from doctors, they always find something and then they try to kill you. She died at 92 and live by that.

and avoid having to handle someone making partial payments (which, as someone said below, you can do). However, if they don't give discounts, they don't give discounts. IMO, regardless of my feelings about healthcare in the US, if you're capable of paying the bill, you should, because it's not likely the hospital and the insurance companies that'll suffer for non-payment.

Sorry about your medical situation. That sounds like it would truly suck. My sympathies.

Healthcare in the US sucks, no question but the hospital/doctor doesn't have anything to gain by taking your payment in cash for a discount which is why they're not giving you one. If you don't make the payment, they will eventually mess up your credit. I would tell them you can't pay for the whole thing and ask for a payment plan.

make. You can pay a buck a month and they can't touch you. As long as you are paying the bill...

then the hospital bill should have included it. Do you have insurance?

(big deductible) which I seriously wonder whether it is worth having.

there is a charge for the anesthesiologist and have paid that bill, they are owed nothing. If there is no charge for the anesthesiologist, call the hospital and ask where that charge is.

I've dealt with this for my mom who has a medicare advantage plan, and the charge was added to the hospital bill and all was fine after that. Good luck.

but if you write "endorsement of this check constitutes full payment for services rendered" on the back of your check, and they cash it, then your bill is paid in full. does anyone know if this is true?

They don't give discounts for everything just because they are insurance. When I worked for an insurance company we had doctors who regularly billed people without insurance less than they billed insurance, and we had people who they gave a discount to the insurance. You can't just assume they give insurance a discounted rate because you are convinced that they're evil. Anesthesia isn't free you know.

to negotiate. I am sure that the doctors would like to pocket some cash. However, the problem for them is that there is a record of the procedure and somehow that has to be shown as paid. There are probably controls in the computer that prevent the employees from altering payment records. Though the doctor might be able to offer you a "professional courtesy" discount. However, if there are partners, then they all have to be in on the ledgerdemain.

Random Accounts person isn't going to have the authority to issue a discount.

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Here's my advice. If you can afford it and just want it to go away, then pay it.

If you want a discount, then you may be able to get one, but before your call the clinic/place again, call your states attorney generals office and ask them if a medical clinic has to offer discounts if they have a policy of doing so. It really varies by law. But I gotta tell ya, it is likely their decision. Period.

SO if you really, really, really want that discount call up and just ask them if they have a policy on discounts and get far enough up the food chain to talk to someone who knows. Understand that they might have a policy of no discounts.

Now if you need a discount that is another issue. Try to negotiate a payment plan if you can and pay what you can. If you decide to really be an ass and/or are really hard up then see if they will waive it, or failing that if they will accept minimal payments. However keep in mind that you seem to have already indicated that you can afford about $450 (500 minus 10 percent) in cash...


I would call again, but hey, they might not have a hard and fast no discount policy but I gotta tell you, if they do, it's the first clinic I've ever heard of that does.

Might want to make an offer just above that point.

Definitely wait at least one day so everyone can have a cooling off period. On a different day of the week, you might get someone other than the disagreeable person.

If it's a large office, odds are better you get someone else. However, sometimes, it all goes through that one disagreeable person with whom you spoke.

In any case, I would just ask about payments. Don't suggest a number. I have found with medical bills if I ask about payments, and let them say a number, they will offer a less aggressive repayment plan than I was willing to pay. This usually makes it fairly easy. I ask, they offer, I accept.

Also, understand that the person you spoke with might have been having a really bad day. Don't bring up your previous call and conversation.